On August 30, 2012 one of hip-hop’s most respected businessman, Chris Lighty, was found dead in his Bronx apartment. While some friends and relatives dispute the final report, his death was officially ruled a suicide.

Lighty began his career working for DJ Red Alert. He became a road manager for Boogie Down Productions and managed groups like The Jungle Brothers and A Tribe Called Quest before founding Violator Records and management guiding the careers of hip-hop heavyweights like 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes and Missy Elliott.